By Jeremy Reynalds, Ph.D. Founder and CEO Joy Junction Inc. Alcoholism is “a wicked sin, just like drug addiction. You can get victory over it with the help of Jesus. “ We live in an alcohol saturated culture, where the link is often made between drinking alcohol and having a good time. Unless you’re a conservative American Christian or … Read More
Resolutions or Prayers? You Decide!
By Jeremy Reynalds, Ph.D. Founder and CEO Joy Junction Inc. With Thanksgiving and Christmas behind us, if you haven’t already it’s time to start thinking about the seemingly inevitable subject of new year’s resolutions. You know, stuff like resolving to be a better person, changing jobs, quitting smoking, eating less and exercising more, or some other personal goal that … Read More
The Holidays are Over but the Need Continues
By Jeremy Reynalds, Ph.D. Founder and CEO Joy Junction Inc. For about two months out of each year, the telephone at Joy Junction, New Mexico’s largest emergency homeless shelter, rings almost off the hook with calls from happy sounding voices offering food, volunteer help and monetary gifts. As you may have guessed, I’m talking about the Thanksgiving and Christmas seasons. … Read More
2014 is Almost Over
From: Jeremy Reynalds, Ph.D. Founder and CEO Joy Junction Inc. Dear Joy Junction Friend, I hope your holiday season has been blessed. As you may have seen, Joy Junction just celebrated our 29th Christmas. What an exciting and unbelievable ride it’s been since 1986. You can find our more about Joy Junction ‘s beginning and my own story in … Read More
Year End Giving Will Help Us End Strong.
From: Jeremy Reynalds, Ph.D. Founder and CEO Joy Junction Inc. Dear Joy Junction Friend, Thank you for your prayerful and financial support of Joy Junction during 2014. We appreciate it so much, and couldn’t continue to feel and shelter the hungry and homeless without your help. Would you please consider a special gift year end gift for 2014? It will … Read More
With a 4.2 GPA and Scholarship, Woman Recalls Her Childhood Experience Staying at Joy Junction
By Jeremy Reynalds, Ph.D. Founder and CEO Joy Junction Inc. Joy Junction has sheltered thousands of youngsters over its 28 years of existence. Sometimes I wonder where they all are and how life is treating them, but only rarely do I get news of what they’re doing now. Sally (not her real name) wrote to Joy Junction recently, thanking us … Read More
Homeless but Still Thankful for So Much
By Jeremy Reynalds, Ph.D. Founder and CEO Joy Junction Inc. It’s a day-and season-of thanks, but had you ever wondered what the homeless are thankful for? We asked some of our guests at Joy Junction. Their answers, both simple and profound, may surprise you. Brandi said she is happy being able to wake up “clean from addictions.” Several other guests … Read More
Joy Junction Guests Appreciate Food and Shelter for Thanksgiving
By Jeremy Reynalds, Ph.D. Founder and CEO Joy Junction Inc. It’s almost “Thanksgiving” again at Joy Junction, New Mexico’s largest emergency homeless shelter, and only shelter for homeless families. It’s hard for me to believe that Thanksgiving Day will mark the 29th successive year we have shared the blessing of Thanksgiving with Albuquerque’s many homeless and abused women and homeless … Read More
Less Drama-More Dialogue.
By Jeremy Reynalds, Ph.D. Founder and CEO Joy Junction Inc. It might just help our city’s homeless The older (and hopefully wiser) I get, I want less drama and more dialogue-in every area of my life. Dialogue, and not drama or confrontation, is the key to helping alleviate some of the homeless issues Downtown. Take those individuals who have been … Read More
To ID or not to ID? That is the Question. What Would Jesus Do?
By Jeremy Reynalds, Ph.D. Founder and CEO Joy Junction Inc. And what about background checks? Who helps the homeless without any identification? It’s a conversation that needs to occur, because lack of identification is a reoccurring challenge faced by homeless people. Joy Junction asks for identification, but works with those who don’t have it to help them obtain the identification … Read More
TEDxABQ Asks Joy Junction to Change Shirts that Say “Life is Tough … God is Good”
By Jeremy Reynalds, Ph.D. Founder and CEO Joy Junction Inc. While the group’s creed is ideas worth spreading, this is obviously one idea that wasn’t welcome. The idea? “God is good,” written on a shirt. TEDxABQ Founder Tim Nisly (who I have known and respected for years) brings people together from all over New Mexico to give what are dubbed … Read More
Where were You on 9/11? What Can We Learn from That Day in Light of Current Terror Threats?
By Jeremy Reynalds, Ph.D. Founder and CEO Joy Junction Inc. As we approach the thirteenth anniversary of 9/11, we again remember the events of that terrible day and the thousands whose lives were lost to those awful attacks. However, our hearts are perhaps especially heavy this year with the recent barbaric beheadings of two reporters by ISIS, and ongoing media … Read More
Watch Those Words! A Plea for Civil Discourse about the Homeless and Life in General
By Jeremy Reynalds, Ph.D. Founder and CEO Joy Junction Inc. Not usually thinking about their effect, we throw around words so casually and sometimes brutally, often from behind the security and anonymity of a computer keyboard. Even though it isn’t in any way true, many people have apparently taken the old adage to heart, “Sticks and stones may break my … Read More
Homeless Violence. What’s the Answer?
By Jeremy Reynalds, Ph.D. Founder and CEO Joy Junction Inc. The horrific recent killings of two homeless men in Albuquerque by three teenagers has generated numerous opinions about the motivation for the senseless act. An Albuquerque Journal article reported that an 18-year-old neighbor who knew the three said the youngest of the accused killers was concerned about homeless people hanging … Read More
No Easy Fix-but Family’s Commitment is Paying Off
By Jeremy Reynalds, Ph.D. Founder and CEO Joy Junction Inc. There’s no easy solution for those walking the road to recovery. Most of our Joy Junction guests didn’t end up in their current situation overnight, and it usually takes a while for them to get back on their feet again. Sometimes it takes two or three-or even more-attempts. That’s the … Read More
Food Envy: Shelter Food Pictures Make Woman Upset
By Jeremy Reynalds, Ph.D. Founder and CEO Joy Junction Inc. It was just a simple and routine post on our Joy Junction Facebook page and a few other social media as well. The words read, “Our guests enjoyed posole with beef, chile and a tortilla topped off with ice cream (not together!). Was your lunch as good? #jjmeals #hungryinalbuquerque I … Read More
Joy Junction Running Out of Food Staples. Shelter Feeding More than 16,000 Meals a Month
Media Release from Joy Junction Contact Jeremy Reynalds at 505 400 7145 Homeless men, women and families continue in droves to call Joy Junction –Albuquerque’s largest emergency homeless shelter — for a ride to warmth, safety and a hot meal. Shelter officials say the 28-year-old ministry has been sheltering hundreds nightly and feeding more than 16,000 meals a month. These … Read More
Dying to Live. Family Copes With Homelessness and Two Sick Parents
By Jeremy Reynalds, Ph.D. Founder and CEO Joy Junction Inc. The Gantz Family How would you feel if your ordinary day turned into one not so ordinary with the imposition of a death sentence? That was what happened to Joy Junction resident James Gantz, 57, in Oct. 2013. He’d been having a lot of pain and along with his … Read More
Celebrate but Remember the Homeless
By Jeremy Reynalds, Ph.D. Founder and CEO Joy Junction Inc. Not all Americans will be celebrating Independence Day with fireworks, a day off from work, a thankful heart and food. For some, it’s just another day of fear and uncertainty. An incident from four years ago just prior to July 4 ago came to mind. While out on the streets … Read More
Recovery: Often the Difference Between Life and Death
By Jeremy Reynalds, Ph.D. Founder and CEO Joy Junction Inc. Motivations for recovery “down to earth and even timeless.” Joy Junction’s nine month life recovery program can often mean the difference between life and death – both emotionally and physically- for many of its participants. Based on the Tyndale House Life Recovery Bible, the Christ in Power Program- known as CIPP- … Read More
How To Pick Up a Stripper and Other Acts Of Kindness (or Taking People Where They’re At)
By Jeremy Reynalds, Ph.D. Founder and CEO Joy Junction Inc. If a good title is the key to successful book sales, Todd and Erin Stevens have a best seller. Their new book, “How To Pick Up A Stripper and Other Acts Of Kindness” spotlights the ministry at Todd’s church in Mount Juliet, TN (a Nashville suburb), Friendship Community Church, where … Read More
There’s No Quick Fix for Albuquerque’s Smelliest Problem
By Jeremy Reynalds, Ph.D. Founder and CEO Joy Junction Inc. A recent story by KOB TV 4 in Albuquerque reported that some Downtown business owners are just plain fed up. They say while homeless people come to eat at the Albuquerque Rescue Mission, once the facility closes its doors there’s no place for the homeless to use the restroom, and … Read More
“Joy Junction Saved My life. I Now Realize that I Do Matter.”
By Jeremy Reynalds, Ph.D. Founder and CEO Joy Junction Inc. Growing up, Megan’s friends wanted to be just like her. Who wouldn’t? Megan said her mom and dad made six figures a year. “I took amazing vacations and never had to want for anything. Little did they know how unhappy I was.” Why? Megan explained, saying her mother told … Read More
Walking 3,000 Miles in Their Shoes
By Jeremy Reynalds, Ph.D. Founder and CEO Joy Junction Inc. It’s not something that most people think about-and for those who even think, far fewer actually do it. But Michael Pearson, 42, and his wife Julie, 34, went way beyond just thinking about it. They’re now well into “doing” it-walking 3,000 miles across the United States to raise money for … Read More
Down and Out on Rt 66-Taking People Where They’re At
By Jeremy Reynalds, Ph.D. Founder and CEO Joy Junction Inc. Down and Out on Rt 66-Taking People Where They’re At It was a typical Thursday evening in Albuquerque’s Nob Hill. People were enjoying the nice weather, and the bars and restaurants were bustling with business. My assistant Kathy Sotelo and I were looking forward to winding down a rewarding, but … Read More
Appreciating Mom Every Day of the Year
By Jeremy Reynalds, Ph.D. Founder and CEO Joy Junction Inc. With Mother’s Day on our minds, our thoughts obviously focus on “mom.” For this year’s celebration, let’s make sure that we do more than just buy mom a rose or two, take her out to dinner and go back to the way we’ve acted all year. Let’s make a resolution … Read More
A Life Cut Tragically Short and a Community Divided
By Jeremy Reynalds, Ph.D. Founder and CEO Joy Junction Inc. Uncivil discourse. We’re an angry bunch, aren’t we? It’s now been blared all over the nation that hundreds of demonstrators marched in downtown Albuquerque on a recent Sunday to protest deadly shootings by the police, including that of a schizophrenic homeless man who was killed after a standoff with officers. … Read More
No More “Cosmic Loneliness.” Yes, I Believe in the Resurrection!
By Jeremy Reynalds, Ph.D. Founder and CEO Joy Junction Inc. Nobody can deny that we live in a seriously troubled world. We see evidence on a daily basis; violence and killings, a seriously troubled economy, ongoing and seemingly endless political partisan bickering, and so the list goes on. What a depressing scenario! It’s no wonder that prior to his death … Read More
Thrift Shoppe at Joy Junction
Joy Junction shelters and serves food to as many as 300 people a night, and feeds even more from our Lifeline of Hope mobile food truck every day of every year. In order to support Joy Junction’s mission, we have a Thrift Shoppe. Our Thrift Shoppe is open from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Tuesday – Saturday, and is closed … Read More
